Machine for depositing a coating along a line on a tube



Feb. 12, 1952 0. KAYSER 2,585,330

MACHINE FOR DEPOSITING A comma ALONG A LINE ON A TUBE- Filed April 5. 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 hum/r0? Feb. 12, 1952 D. KAYSER MACHINE FOR DEPOSITING A COATING ALONG A LINE on A TUBE 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET' 2 Filed April 5, 194

, Zayd F u u Patented Feb. 12, 1952 NITED STATES MACHINE FOR DEPOSITING A COATING ALONG A LINE ON A TUBE et Silva Application April 5, 1948, Serial No. 19,066 In France April 10, 1947 6 Claims. (Cl. 118-4.)

My invention relates to a machine for depositing on the wall of a tube a coat along one or more parts of lines which do not stretch on the whole length of the tube. This machine is to be used, for example, for depositing a conducting,

coat in the form of a strip on the external or internal vitreous surface of a tubular electric discharge apparatus so as to lower its starting voltage.

One object of the invention is to provide for,

mechanically depositing the coat in a manner requiring only few and unskilled labourers.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully in the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

According to the invention, the coat is deposited by moving the tube so that the point Where a coat depositing device is in contact with thev surface of the tube draws on the surface of the tube the desired line part, said contact being controlled by at least two members, fingers for example, which do not move with the tube and which at least one of the ends of the tube touches during its movement.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention, b way of example, in the case of a tube practically straight on which it is desired to draw one or more parts of line according to the They show those particular parts of the' case. machines concerned which are the subject of the invention.

However Figure 1 shows externally, in perspective seen from above, the whole machine but with,

the coat depositing device and the device for controlling this depositing being both removed.

of the device according to Figure 4 and the tube on which it rests.

, Figure 5 shows part of a machine for the case when the part of line is drawn on the inner surface of the tube and must stop at fixed distances from the end of this tube.

Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the fingers and of switches actuated by said fingers, in the case of the line, drawn on the inner surface of the tube, being formed of two parts placed in the prolongation the one of the other and some distance apart, the two parts ending moreover, respectively at a fixed distance from the ends of the tube.

On Figure 1 has been diagrammatically shown a machine for the case of a line being drawn parallel to the axis of the tube. It is constituted by a frame 1, bearing two pairs of surfaces 2, 3, 4, 5, which guide the tube 5; the latter rests therefore on plane surfaces, arranged in V, which enables it to move with little friction. The moving of the tube is controlled by two rollers l and 8 of an adapted form and lined with rubber. These rollers are respectively set on the same axis as the pulleys I I, I2, which, as indicated in Figure 2, are rotated by the straps l3, M driven themselves by a pulley i5 rotated by a motor not shown. The spacing of the rollers is constantly adjusted by a bell-crank lever ll, movable around an axle l3; this lever bears at one of its ends the axle of one of the rollers while the other end is pulled by a spiral spring is, fixed at a point 20 of the frame of the machine. This adjustment of the space between the rollers secures an uniform driving, whatever may be the little variations in the diameter from one end to the other of a tube or between a tube and another.

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically a machine for the case when each end of the line to be drawn must be respectively at a fixed distance from one end of the tube and the line is drawn on the outer surface of the tube. It comprises two fingers 5G and 5!, each of them actuating a switch 52, 53 controlling the current which feeds an electro-magnet 54 and which is provided by the source 6!; each switch is such that the contact on the wall of the tube of the corresponding finger causes its opening; the two switches are mounted in parallel. The armature 51 of the electro-magnet 5:2 is set at one end of a lever 58 movable around an axle 59 and which bears at its other end the coat depositing device 6!). When no current flows in the electromagnet, the coat depositing device (is rests upon the wall of the tube, for the lever-arm bearing this device is the heaviest; when one of the switches 52, 53 or both let the current flow, the armature 51 is attracted towards the yoke 56, this movement resulting in the lifting of several millimetres of the device it and thus in the stopping of the coat depositing. The switches 52 and 53 being parallel mounted the current in the electroma net is cut-off only when both fingers 50 and 5| are together in contact with the wall of the tube. The distances between fingers 50 and 5| and the device 60 are equal respectively to the distances of the ends of the line to be drawn to the nearest end of the tube.

The coat depositing device 60 is constituted, for example, by a little vessel, the bottom of which is provided with a short vertical piece of capillary pipe. The vessel contains the material to be deposited, for example a colloidal suspension of graphite in water; due to capillary action, this material does not fiow out of the piece of pipe unless the end of the latter touches some surface, the wall of the tube in the present case.

On Figure 3, which shows in section the tube 5 upon which is outwardly deposited the coat 23 and the finger 5! which touches the tube on a part already provided with the coat, it is seen that the finger 51 is grooved with a channel 25 which avoids the finger passing on the coat.

Figure 5 shows diagrammatically a machine for the case when each end of the line to be drawn must be distant respectively by a fixed length from one end of the tube and is drawn on the inner surface of the tube. It comprises two fingers 28 nd 29 actuating each respectively one switch 30 and 3| for the electric current which feeds the electro-magnet 32 and which is provided by the source 4'1; each switch is such that the contact with the surface of the tube of the corresponding finger causes its opening. The electro-magnet 32 comprises along its axis a movable iron core 33, projecting slightly beyond its winding when no current flows, as in the case represented on the figure, and which tends to enter completely into it when the current flows. The coat depositing device 34 is linked with the iron core 33 through a lever 35 which has an axle 36 set on a bracket 31 solid with the electro-ma net. The latter is set at the end of a rod 39 the length of which is greater than that of the tube and the aim of which will be described later. When no current flows in the electro-magnet, the coat depositing device 34 rests on the surface of the tube, the pressure being secured by its own weight; when the current is caused to flow, the motion of the iron core 33 lets the lever 35 rotate around the axle 36, which results in the device 34 raising itself of several millimetres and, therefore, in the stopping of the coat depositing. At the end opposite to the device 34, the rod 38 bears two electric contacts 39 and 40, connected to the winding of the electro-magnet by the wires 48, 49 and which are able to plug into two corresponding contacts 45, 46 set on the frame of the'machine.

The rod 38 and its contacts 39 and 40, as well as the electro-magnet 32 and the device 34, must be able to pass freely inside the tube 6 which is being coated. The switches 30 and 3| are mounted in parallel, which results in the current in the electro-magnet being interrupted only when the' two fingers 28 and 29 are in contact with the surface of the tube, The distance between the fingers 28 and 29 and the device 34, are equal respectively to the distance of the ends of line to be drawn to the nearest end of the tube.

The working of the machine is as follows: The rollers being permanently in rotation, the rod 38 is introduced into the tube by its end which bears the contacts 39, 40, the latter are slid on the corresponding ones 45, 46 of the frame, which results, on one hand, in feeding the electro-magnet, thence in letting it raise the coat depositing device, and, on the other hand, in mechanically connecting the rod 38 to the frame of the machine. The tube 6 is then inserted between the rollers l and 8, which causes its driving. When the end 43 of the tube lifts the first finger 29, nothing happens, it is only when it reaches the second finger 26 that the current in the electro-magnet is stopped, hence that the device 34 depositing the coat comes into contact with the surface of the tube; it remains there until the other end of the tube passes beyond the first finger 29, which results in the electromagnet being fed anew, and therefore in the coating being stopped. A strip of conducting coat can be thus obtained along a generatrix on the wall of a glass tube, a certain length devoid of strip being left at each end, which allows for the working on the ends of the tube without any risk of cracking.

On Figure 6 has been diagrammatically shown the arrangement of the fingers and switches replacing the ones used in the machine shown on Figure 5, in the case of the line, drawn on the inner surface of the tube, being formed of two parts placed in the prolongation the one of the other and some distance apart, the two parts ending, moreover, respectively at a fixed distance from the ends of the tube as in the above case. The switches are inserted in an electric circuit identical, except for the use of supplementary switches, to the one of Figure 5 and having the same function.

The machine comprises, besides the first fingers 23, 29 and switches 30, 3i, i. e. the ones existing on the machine shown on Figure 5, two supplementary fingers 66, 61 and two supplementary switches 10, H. The fingers 56, 6'! are located outside the space between the fingers 26, 29 and pushed by the end 43 of the tube after the fingers 28, 29, the finger 61 being pushed the last. The switches 19, II, actuated respectiv by the fingers 56, 61, are serially connected, and this aggregate is connected in shunt on the first switches 39, 3|. The switch H, actuated by the finger 61 pushed the last by the end 43 of the tube, opens when this finger is being pushed by the tube, while the switch 10, actuated by the finger 66, closes when the latter is pushed by the tube.

The distances between the fingers 28 and 29 and the coat depositing device are chosen as in the case shown on Figure 5. The distance between fingers 66 and 61 is equal to the length of the space between the two parts of line, while the distance between the finger 3-; and the coat depositing device is equal to the distance between the end 43 of the tube, which raises the fingers, and the end of the first drawn part of line which is the most remote from this end 43.

The working of the machine is similar to the one of the machine above described, but, in addition, the raising of the finger 66 by the end 43 causes the closing of the switch (9 hence the feeding of the electro-magnet 32 and the discontinuance of the line, then the raising of finger 61 by the same end causes the opening of the switch H, hence the stopping of the feeding of the electro-magnet and the continuance of the coating on the tube.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for depositing a coating along at least one part of a line, on the wall of a tube, which line is of a length less than the length of the tube, comprising means operable upon contacting the tube wall for depositing a coating thereon, means for moving the tube longitudinal- 1y, means for guiding the tube in its longitudinal movement, electro magnetic means for shifting the coating means out of contact with the tube Wall, a first switch operable when closed for completing an energizing circuit through-the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator positioned in the path or movement of the tube for shifting the switch to open position upon the actuator engaging the tube, and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and operable when closed for completing the energizing circuit through the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator mechanically independent of the actuator of the first switch and also positioned in the path of move ment oi the tube for shifting the second switch to open position upon engaging the tube.

2. A machine for depositing a coating along at least one part of a line, on the wall of a tube, which line is of a length less than the length of the tube, comprising means operable upon contacting the tube wall for depositing a coating thereon, means for moving the tube longitudinally, including two rollers mounted to grip the tube between them, means for driving at least one of the rollers, two pairs of longitudinally spaced guiding elements positioned to guide the tube in its longitudinal movement with the moving means disposed between the two spaced pairs of guiding elements, electro-magnetic means for shifting the coating means out of contact with the tube wall, a first switch operable when closed for completing an energizing circuit through the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the switch to open position upon the actuator engaging the tube, and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and operable when closed for completing the energizing circuit through the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator mechanically independent of the actuator of the first switch and also positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the second switch to open position upon engaging the tube.

3. A machine for depositing a coating along at least one part of a line on the inner surface of the wall of a tube, which line is of a length less than the length of the tube comprising means for moving the tube longitudinally, means for guiding the tube in it longitudinal movement, means positioned in the path of travel of the tube for reception in the tube and operable upon contacting the inner surface of the tube wall for depositing a coating thereon, electromagnetic means for shifting the coating means out of contact with the tube wall, a first switch operable when closed for completing an energizing circuit through the electro-magnetic means and provided with an actuator positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the switch to open position upon the actuator engaging the tube, and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and operable when closed for completing the energizing circuit through the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator mechanically independent of the actuator of the first switch and also positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the second switch to open position upon engaging the tube.

4. A machine for depositing a coating along at least one part of a line on the inner surface of the wall of a tube, which line is of a length less than the length of the tube comprising means for moving the tube longitudinally, including two rollers mounted to grip the tube between them, means for driving at least one of the rollers, two pairs of longitudinally spaced guiding elements positioned to guide the tube in its longitudinal movement with the moving means disposed between the two spaced pairs of guiding elements, means positioned in the path of travel of the tube for reception in the tube and operable upon contacting the inner surface of the tube wall for depositing a coating thereon, electro magentic means for shifting the coating means out of contact with the tube wall, a first switch operable when closed for completing an energizing circuit through the electro-magnetic means and provided with an actuator positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the switch to open position upon the actuator engaging the tube, and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and operable when closed for completing the energizing circuit through the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator mechanically independent of the actuator of the first switch and also positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the second switch to open position upon engaging the tube.

5. A machine for depositing a coating along at least one part of a line, on the wall of a tube, which line is of a length less than the length of the tube, comprising means operable upon contacting the tube wall for depositing a coating thereon, means for moving the tube longitudinally, means for guiding the tube in its longitudinal movement, electromagnetic means for shifting the coating means out of contact with the tube wall, a first switch operable when closed for completing an energizing circuit throu h the electro-magnetic means and provided with an actuator positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the switch to open position upon the actuator engaging the tube, and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and operable when closed for completing the energizing circuit through the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator mechanically independent of the actuator of the first switch and also positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the second switch to open position upon engaging the tube, means for interrupting the coating between the ends thereof including third. and fourth switches, means serially connecting the third and fourth switches in a circuit in parallel with the first and second switches, spaced actuators for the third and fourth switches mechanically independent of each other and of the first and second switches and positioned at longitudinally spaced positions in the path of travel of the tube for shifting the switch of the actuator first engaged by the tube during its longitudinal movement to closed position and for shifting the actuator of the other switch to open position.

6. A. machine for depositing a coating along at least one part of a line on the inner surface of the wall of a tube, which line is of a length less than the length of the tube comprising means for moving the tube longitudinally, means for guiding the tube in its longitudinal movement, means positioned in the path of travel of the tube for reception in the tube and operable upon contacting the inner surface of the tube wall for depositing a coating thereon, electromag- 7 netic means for shifting the coating means out of contact with the tube wall, a first switch operable when closed for completing an energizing circuit through the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the switch to open position upon the actuator engaging the tube, and a second switch connected in parallel with the first switch and operable when closed for completing the energizing circuit through the electromagnetic means and provided with an actuator mechanically independent of the actuator of the first switch and also positioned in the path of movement of the tube for shifting the second switch to open position upon engaging the tube, means for interrupting the coating between the ends thereof including third and fourth switches, means serially connecting the third and fourth switches in a circuit in parallel with the first and second switches, spaced actuators for the third and fourth switches mechan- 8 ically independent of each other and of the first and second switches and positioned at longitudinally spaced positions in the path of travel of the tube for shifting the switch of the actuator first engaged by the tube during its longitudinal movement to closed position and for shifting the actuator of the other switch to open position.

DANIEL KAYSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Magee Jan. 27, 

